Chassahowtizka Wilderness Area is located in west central Florida on the Gulf coast approximately 50 miles north of Tampa-St. Petersburg and 70 miles west of Orlando. The wilderness is nestled within the 31,000 acre Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. The wilderness area consists of approximately 23,360 acres of salt water bays, estuaries and brackish marshes. The IMPROVE site is located at a maintenance facility, 4 miles south of the town Homossassa Springs, FL, and 1/4 mile west of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Reserve maintenance facility. The IMPROVE site is located at an elevation of 4.3 m MSL.